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More than a week later, Clay Bradford marvels at the coincidence.
The former outfielder at NCAA Division II St. Mary’s was back home in Houston wading through his baseball options in the transfer portal. A couple big ones — TCU and Duke — had already fallen through because of academic-credit complications.
So Bradford was a feeling a bit discouraged on a weekday morning spent hitting with a former Atascocita High School teammate — NU star shortstop Brice Matthews. A few hours later Bradford took a call from Huskers pitching coach Rob Childress.
Nebraska was interested in him. Before long, the interest was mutual.
“Brice kind of helped me through the process and had nothing but great things to say about Nebraska,” Bradford said. “Once I heard the positive things from him it was kind of a no-brainer.”
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Bradford on Thursday announced his commitment to the Huskers. With one year of eligibility remaining, the longtime right fielder immediately becomes a contender for significant playing time coming off a campaign in which he hit .419 with 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 54 RBIs across 52 games.
“It brought me to tears,” Bradford said of his decision. “I thought the Division I dream was gone for me when I went to St. Mary’s — I thought it was over. I never thought this day would come. So when I hopped in the portal I didn’t know what was going to happen. Then all these schools came after me. It was a dream come true. To be able to call my parents and tell them I was going to be going to Nebraska was unreal.”
Bradford’s path to major college baseball is winding. A back injury during his senior prep year sapped his power and limited his offers. The pandemic wiped out his first college season at Temple College but allowed him to heal. Steady growth at St. Mary’s — 150 miles south in San Antonio — transformed him into one of the most consistent hitters at that level.
The .419 mark ranked 21st among all DII hitters. Bradford also posted a 7.69 earned-run average across 54 2/3 innings (11 starts), though he’ll strictly hit for the first time in his career at Nebraska. He entered the portal last month when St. Mary’s made a coaching change following a 25-27 campaign.
Bradford’s other finalist was Texas State, where his older brother was a relief pitcher in 2018 and 2019. The fifth-year player will work out this summer and arrive on campus in August.
“I’m excited,” Bradford said. “I’m a high-energy guy. Sometimes I have to calm myself down a bit.”
Bradford is NU’s fourth portal transfer but first on the hitting side after the Huskers brought in pitchers Bobby Olsen (Brown), Rans Sanders (Omaha) and Grant Cleavinger (Tulane) earlier this month. The Huskers started two transfers in the outfield last season in Casey Burnham and Charlie Fischer, both of whom completed their eligibility.
